Mechanism for coiling sheet material



- June 20, 1944. E. w. ALLARDT MECHANISM FOR COILING SHEET MATERiALFiled Feb. 14, 1941 '4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ERNST W. ALLARDT BYATTORNEY June 20, 1944. E. w. ALLARDT 2,351,894

MECHANISM FOR COILING-SHEET MATERIAL I Filed Feb. 14, 1941 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ERNST W. ALLARDT ATTORNEY June 20, 1944. E..,W.ALLARDT MECHANISM FOR COILING SHEET MATERIAL 4 SheetsSheet 3 Filed Feb.14, 1941 INVENTOR ERNST W. ALLARDT ATTORNEY June 20, 1944. w, ALLARDTMECHANISM FOR COILING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Feb. 14, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet4 INVENTOR ERNST W. ALLARDT BY 7 ATTORNEY Patented June 20, 1944 ErnstW. Allardt larma, Ohio, assignor to The Y oder Company, Cleveland, Ohio.a corporation of Ohio Application February 14, 1941, Serial No. 378,9276 Claims. (Cl. 242-72) This invention relates to mechanism for coilingsheet material, the embodiment herein disclosed being adapted to coilsheet material having a width substantially equal to" the length of thecoiling drum or less, or to simultaneous coil a plurality of sections ofsheet material. The

embodiment of the invention herein disclosed has been applied to thecoiling of sheet metal.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanlsm of thistype having a drumprovided with one or more contractible and expansibiesections and fluid operated means for operating the section or sectionsin one direction, or releasing them for operation in the oppositedirection, whereby the drum may be readily set for coiling and thecoiled material readily released for removal from the drum.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism ofthis type having a driven drum provided with one or more contractibleand expansib-le sections and fluid operated means exterior of the drumfor operating the section or sections in one direction and permittingoperation thereof in the opposite direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism ofthis type having a drum provided with a contractible and expansiblesection, means for operating said section to expand or contract it and amaterial gripping device controlled by said operating means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improvd mechanism ofthis type having a coiling drum and means external to the drum forsimultaneously securing the end of the material to the drum andexpanding it ready for coiling Another object of the invention is toprovide in a drum for coiling sheet material, improved means forgripping the end of the ma- 1 terial and readily adapting it to materialof different thicknesses.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism ofthis type comprising a contractible and expandible drum having thereinsimplified elements which co-act to expand contract the drum and powermeans interioriy of thedrum for controlling the movement of theoperating elements.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart to which my invention relates from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a sideelevation of a mechanism embodying my invention, including apparatus forhandling the coiled material.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section onthe line 33' of Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 4a together constitute a section onthe line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the drum looking towards the left of Fig.4w, parts being broken away.

Fig. 6 is a section on theline 6-6 of Fig. 4a.

Fig. 6a is a fragmentary section showing certain parts illustrated inFig. 6 but in a diflerent position.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of parts shown in Fig. '6, butshowing the collapsible sections of the drum in contracted position.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 4a.

In the drawings, I indicates a support'or'bed plate having a portionextending over a pit la to accommodate a truck 2 to which reference willlater be made. a housing mounted on the support I and having spacedmembers 3a, 3a. The members 3a form seats for bearing boxes havinganti-friction bearings 4 for a shaft, indicated as an entirety at 5, oneof the bearings consisting of sets of tapered rollers arranged to takeend thrusts on .the shaft 5. Between the supporting members 3a, theshaft is provided with a gear 6 in mesh with and driven by a pinion 6a,which, through a suitable gear reduction mounted in the housing 3, isdriven by the shaft 1 of a suitable motor 1a, the latter being mountedon the support i.

The shaft 5 extends through the housing 3, its

outer end 5a carrying adrum indicated as an entirety at 8. The drum 8comprises a plurality of sections related to provide a cylindrical wallon which the material A is coiled, certain of said sections beingmovable inwardly to a collapsed position to release the coiled material,whereby it maybe readily removed from the drum. 9 indicates as anentirety a fluid operated mechanism for controlling the movable sectionsof the drum, as later set forth, parts thereof being disposed exteriorlyof the drum. In the preferred form of construction, I provide a mainsection 8a to which the shaft 5 is connected to efiect rotation of-thedrum, movable sections 8b disposed at opposite sides of the section andpreferably pivotally mounted on the latter and a movable section 80disposed'diametrically of the main section 8a between the sections 861and arranged to 3 indicates as an entirety" co-act with the adjacentends of the sections 8b to control their movement inwardly andoutwardly.

The main section 80 consists of a-curvilinear wall 8a having on itsinner side an integral, longitudinally extending rim III to which isintegrally connected a sleeve "la. The sleeve Illa surrounds the outerend to of the shaft and seats at its inner end against an annularshoulder la (see Fig. 4a) provided on the shaft outward of the adjacenthousing supporting member la. The sleeve Illa preferably extends fromthe shoulder 5a to the outer end of the shaft, its outer end beingutilized as a stop to limit in one direction the movement of the devices(later referred to) for operating the movable drum section 80 radiallyoutwardly. The sleeve Illa is preferably held on the shaft 5 with itsinner end in engagement with the shoulder to by a pair of plates 5' eachof which is secured to the outer end of the shaft 5 by screws 5" andextending laterally into overlapping relation to the outer end of thesleeve (see Fig. 5). ll indicates a groove formed in the inner wall ofthe sleeve Illa and extending from its inner end inwardly longitudinallyof the sleeve to receive a longitudinally extending key 12 provided onthe shaft 5, whereby the latter is connected to the sleeve Illa toeifect rotation of the drum by the shaft. The sleeve Illa is'provided oneach side adjacent its opposite ends with upper and lower pairs ofoutwardly extending walls I3, l3a, each terminating in a hollow boss i4alined with the adjacent boss at the opposite end of the sleeve. Thebosses ll on the walls "a at each side of the sleeve Illa support a rodor shaft IS on which the adjacent movable section 8!) swings from theposition shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 7 and in theopposite direction to the Fig. 6 position. Each movable section 8bconsists of a curvilinear wall 8b provided adjacent its opposite endswith inwardly extending ribs l6, which at their inner ends are formedwith alined openings to receive the rod I! (see dotted lines in Fig.4a). The ribs It at their opposite ends and the outer longitudinal sideedge of the adj acent wall 8b (from end to end thereof) terminate ininclined walls i1, lla (disposed in the same plane), which and thecorresponding walls on the other drum section 8b are arranged toslidably engage correspondingly inclined walls l8 provided on theopposite sides of and extending from end to end of the movablesection80, whereby the outward radial movement of the section 80 serves toexpand or swing the sections 8b outwardl (see Fig. 6) and the inwardradial movement thereof permits the sections 8b to contract or moveinwardly (see Fig. '7), under the influence of spaced springs I8a. Eachof the springs |8a is connected at its opposite ends to studs iBbsuitably secured to the section 8b and normally tends to swing thelatter inwardly. The

tension of the springs l8a also operates through the drum sections 8bdue to the engagement of their walls l1, Ila, with the inclined walls l8on the drum section 80 to move the latter inwardly upon release thereofby its operating devices hereinafter referred to.

Means are provided, as later set forth, for limiting the inward swingingmovement of the sections 8b to relieve pressure on the devices, whichoperate the section 8c, when these devices are moved to theirinoperative position, so that any pressure on the sections 8b due to thetension of the coiled material will not be transmitted to the section toand devices for operating it.

assume.

The drum section to is moved outwardly radially by spaced pairs ofrelatively movable coacting devices It, "a, one device I! of each pairof devices being mounted on the inner side of the section to and therespective co-actlng devices "a being connected to and operated by thefluid operated mechanism 9. The devices I 9 consist of inwardly.extending integral portions on the section 80, each portion having onits outer end an inclined face l9, and on its lower side a horizontalface l9, whereas each device Na consists of a block slidably mounted onthe sleeve Illa between guides 20 and having on its inner end aninclined face Ifla' arranged to engage the face IQ. of the adjacentdevice I! and on its .upper side a horizontal face I911" arranged toengage the face IS" of the adjacent device It. Accordi'ngly, movement ofthe blocks lta toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 4a, will operate thedrum section to outwardly, as shown in Fig. 6, and movement of theblocks toward the right will permit the drum section to move inwardlyunder the influence of the springs Ila. Each device I9a is provided with.a pusher 21, which is secured to the device by screws 22. The pushersare connected together by a rod 23 having reduced ends which fit intoopenings formed in the pushers and secured thereto by pins 24. Betweeneach block Na and the adjacent pusher 2| I provide shims 22a one or moreof which may be utilized. to adjustably space the blocks i9arelatively,to each otherto insure their simultaneous engagement with thedevices l9. As shown in Fig. 4a, the outer block l9a is formed with adrum section during its operation inwardly and outwardly, its inner endis provided with a vertical recess 8d the front and rear sides of whichengage a guide member 8e preferably formed integrally with and extendingupwardly from the adjacent end of the sleeve Illa. The inner side of theguide member 8c is preferably provided with a wear plate 8e.

25 indicates the operating connections between the fluid operated means9 and the outer pusher 2|, arranged to move the devices [9a inwardly andoutwardly longitudinally of the drum. The connections 25 comprise thefollowing: 26 indicates an arm secured at its outer end to the outerpusher 2i by the adjacent screws 22. The inner end of the arm 28 isenlarged to form a cap 21 which receives the outer end of a sleeve 28,the latter preferably having a pressed-in fit with the inner side wallsof the cap 21. The sleeve 28 extends into an opening 50 formed in andextending through the shaft and surrounds the reduced portion on theouter end portion of a pit man or rod 29, which forms a part of thehydraulic means 9, the inner end of the sleeve being seated against theshoulder 29a formed by the reduced portion of the rod. The outer endouter which later set forth. Between the nut 30 and face of the cap 2'!I provide a plate 3| serves as a guard and closure for the outer end ofthe drum 8. The plate at its upper side is formed with a recess 3la toaccommodate the drum section 8c when the latter is moved inwardly and atits lower side the plate is formed with a recess 3"; to accommodateother parts hereinafter referred to.

The rod 29 extends in the opposite direction through the opening 5cbeyond the inner end 5b of the shaft 5 and is provided at its free endwith a piston 32, which is reciprocatable within a cylinder 33, thepiston and cylinder forming parts of the fluid operated means 9. Thecylinder 33 consists of a side wall 331: and inner and outer heads 33b,33c, the inner head 33b being rigidly connected by a collar 34 (throughwhich the rod 29 extends) to the inner end of the shaft 5, whereby thelatter rotates the cylinder. The

outer cylinder head 330 is suitably bolted to the outer end of thecylinder 33 and formed with an opening, which is axially related to theshaft 8 and forms the seat for the inner flanged end of a conduit member35. The member 35 extends outwardly from the head 330, a ring nut 35a,

threaded thereon and tightened against the head 33c serving to securethe member 35 thereto for rotation with the cylinder 33. The conduitmember 35 extends into and through a casing 38 for rotation therein toprovide for the supply of the fluid, such as oil or air under pressure,to the cylinder 33 and its discharge therefrom through stationary pipes37,- 31a, dependent upon the position of the valve element of a valveindicated as an entirety at 38. The pipe 31 is connected to an openingleading through the side wall of the casing 38 into an annular recess 39formed in its inner wall and connected to one end ofv a conduit 39aformed in the conduit member 35, the opposite end of the conduit 39aleading into the outer end of the cylinder 33, so that when the fluid issupplied from the pipe 31 to the conduit 39a it will move the piston 32inwardly (to the right as viewed in Fig. 4) and through the rod 29, arm28 and pushers 2|, move the blocks 59a toward the right (as viewed inFig. 4a) to release the drum section 80 and permit it and the sections8b to move inwardly under the influence of the springs Wu. The pipe 31ais connected to an opening leading through the side wall of the casing36 into an annular recess d0 formed in its inner wall and connected toone end of a conduit 40a formed in the conduit member 35, the oppositeend of the conduit Mia being connected to one end of a duct M formedouter end walls 36a,

in the cylinder head 33c and side wall 33a of the cylinder 33. As shownin Fig. 4, the opposite end of the duct di leads through the cylinderhead 3317, so that when the fluid is supplied from the pipe 31a to theconduit 46a and duct til, it will move the piston 32 outwardly (to theleft as viewed in Fig. 4) and through the rod 29, arm 28 and pushers2I,-move the blocks I90 toward the left (as viewed in Fig. 4a) tooperate the drum section 8c radially outwardly and through the section8c to swing the sections 8b outwardly in-, v

3 "c connects the supply pipe 31' to the pipe 31 and the passage 38bconnects the pipe 31a to the discharge pipe 3111. Upon movement of thevalve element 38a by a rod," to'the' right (as viewed in Fig. 4), thepassage 380 will connect the supply pipe 31' to the pipe 31a andpassages 38d, 38a, will connect the pipe 31 to the discharge pipe 81a.The end walls of' the valve casing are preferably utilized to limit themovement of the valve element in either direction with the passagestherein in registry with the pipes in either operated position.Accordingly, in either position of the valve element 38a, the fluid willbe supplied through one pipe to one side of the piston 32 and the fluidon the other side thereof will be discharged from the cylinder throughthe other pipe.

The casing 36 is mounted on the conduit member 35 between ashoulder'thereon and the head of a screw 35' threaded into the outer endof the conduit member. The casing 38 consists of a substantially annularside wal1 andinner and the side wall being lined with packing materialin which the conduit member 35 rotates.

Themeans for limiting the inward movement of the drumsections 8b consistof the following: 68 indicates a rod supported by each rib l6 oi. each(hand section 8b. 'As shown in Fig. 8, the rib I3 is formed with anopening 45 in alinement with the boss It provided on the adjacent wallIt and the adjacent rod 53 is mounted at one end in the opening 44 andsecured against movement by a. pin 46a. The rod M extends inwardly fromthe wall it through the adjacent boss M, its opposite end fitting into aboss 45 provided on the outer end of a lug 56 formed integrally with andextending inwardly from the adjacent drum section 81). As shown in'Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, the openings It in the bosses It on th walls 93 areenlarged or slightly elongated to permit movement of the pins 33 withthe adjacent drum section but disposed so that the pins will engagetheir inner sides to limit the inward movement of the drum section. i

47 indicates as an entirety the means for detachably gripping the freeend of the material A to secure it to the drum and arranged tobecontrolled by the operating connections which operate the blocks l9a,whereby the material is automatically secured to the drum when thesections 81), 8c, are moved outwardly and automatically released fromthe drum when these sections are contracted. Of these gripping means, 38indicates a slot formed in the wall 8a and rib l0 and extending from endto end of the drum, the slot preferably being inclined to a radius ofthe drum (see Figs. 5 and 6). One side of the slot is provided with awall 59, which is held in the slot against endwise movement by plates490 (one only being shown) secured by screws to the end walls of the ribit. The inner face of the wall 49 isprovided with a longitudinallyextending key 89b which fits into a complementary recess formed in therib It to lock the wall in the slot 48. Opposite the wall 49, the rib i0is formed with a through recess 50 merging on its inner side with theslot 48. dates a rotatable member 5! which co-acts with the wall 69 togrip or tion of the material A, as shown :in figs. 5 and 6. The member5| is reduced at its opposite ends to provide trunnions 52, 52a, whichare rotatably mounted in bearings 53, 53, the latter being secured inthe recess 50 by set screws 53a. The

The recess 50 accommorelease the free end porco-acts with the latter tothrough it rotate the member 5| dispose its eccentric portion outer wallof the member 5| from end to end is disposed .eccentrically to the axisof the trunnions 52, 52a, so that in one angular position the throw" ofthe eccentric is spaced from the wall to permit the insertion of thefree end of the material and when the member is rotated to anotherangular position the "throw" of the eccentric moves toward the wall 45and accordingly rip the material as indicated by the line a: (see Fig.6). When the member is in its non-gripping position the throw of theeccentric is preferably arranged adlacent the inner end of the slot 55(as indicated by the line a: as shown in Fig. 6a) so that when themember 5| is operated to grip the material it is rotated clockwise, asviewed in Figs. 5 and '6. Accordingly, pull on it between the member 5|and wall 49. The trunnion 52a extends beyond its bearing 53 through thecollar 54 on the inner end of an arm 54', as shown at Ma (see Fig. 4a).The arm 54' is reduced at its outer end to form a shaft 54a for a roller55. The roller 55 is held on the shaft 5411 by a washer 55 engaging itsouter end. The washer 55 may be held in position on the shaft 54a by acotter pin, but by preference I employ one end of a spring 51, which isconnected at its opposite end to a pin 51a extending outwardly from thecap 21 and nprmally tends to swing'the arm 5| in the direction to rotatethe gripping member 5| clockwise, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 8, to engageand grip the material A. 58 indicates a wall preferably formedintegrally with and depending from the cap 21, its forward end beinginclined and positioned to engage and ride the roller 55 as the cap 21is moved outwardly by the rod 29, such engagement operating through thearm 54 to rotate the member 5| counterclockwise, as viewed in Figs. 5and 6, so that (a) when the rod 29, cap 21 and arm 28 are movedoutwardly to permit the drum section 50 to move the material A tends tobind inwardly, the gripping member 5| is disengaged 1 from the materialand (b) when these parts are moved inwardly to expand the drum section50, the wall 58 moves away from the roller 55 and permits the spring 51to swing the arm 5| and clockwise, whereby the material A is gripped.The plate 58 preferably consists of an inner section 58a and an outersection 58a, the latter being formed of hardened metal to reduce thewear thereon incident to its engagement with the roller 55.

'In the arrangement shown and described, a

spring i relied upon to operate the member 5| into gripping engagementwith the material and wall 49 so that any pullon the material will bindit between these parts, whereas the hydraulic means. operating throughthe rod 29, cap 21 and plate 58 are relied upon to release the member 5|from the material. a

While the member 5| may operate to grip and release sheet materialshaving slight differences in thickness, I prefer to provide adjustableconnections between the collar 54 and member 5| to dispose 'the "throw"of the latter in any predetermined non-gripping position, dependent uponthe thickness of the material to be coiled, so that when the member 5|is rotated by the spring 51 (upon movement of the wall 58 inwardly, the"throw of the member 5| will engage the material and grip it as alreadyset forth. These connections preferably comprise clutch elements 58between the outer face of the collar-5l and the inner face of aremovable cap 50, whichis in relation to the i keyed to the outer endportion of the trunnion 52s, the cap 55 being removably secured to thetrunnion by a cap screw 5|. Accordin ly. upon removal of the cap 50, thearm 54' ma be rotated on the trunnion 52a to the desired position andthen locked thereto in its adjusted position by the cap 50 uponreplacement of the latter.

In operation, the free end of the material A is inserted in the slot 48and then fluid is admitted to the inner side of the piston 32, themovement of which toward the left as viewed in Fig. 4 serves tosimultaneously eflect a gripping of the material and expansion of thedrum walls 8b, 8b, 8c. The motor la is then operated to coll thematerial on the drum 5. To remove the coil, the piston 32 is operated inthe opposite direction to simultaneously retract the drum sections 8b,5b, 5c and disengage the member 5| from the material. The truck 2 isthen moved on the rails 2'- to position its platform 20 below the coiledmaterial. The platform 2a is then raised into engagement with the coilfollowing which an upwardly extending arm 2b on the outer end of anendwise movable rod 2c and arranged to engage the truck and coil, movesthe coil beyond the drum 8 for transfer to a platform 2d. The rod to isconnected to a piston within a cylinder 2c adapted to be operated byfluid pressure. The truck 2 is provided with a column 2e which supportssuitable control devices for operating the platform 2a and controllingthe fluid supply to the cylinder 20. The construction of the truck andthe means for operating its platform and moving the truck form no partof the present invention, for which reason these parts are not fullyillustrated.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates, many changesin construction and widely diflering embodiments and applications of theinvention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. My disclosures and the description herein arepurely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support,of a shaft rotatably mounted thereon, means for rotating said shaft, adrum fixed to said shaft, on which sheet material is adapted to becoiled, and provided with a collapsible section, mechanism within thedrum for operating said collapsible section relative to the remainingportion of the drum, gripping devices for removably securing the freeend of the material to said drum, one of said devices being rotatablymounted in the drum and having an eccentrieportion intermediate its endsfor engagement with and disengagement from the maed on said support,said drum having a section movable inwardly to release the coil ofmaterial, a device movably mounted on said drum arranged to detachablysecure one end of the materiai to the drum, a spring for operating saiddevice into engagement with the material, and mechanism, arranged whenmoved in one direction to operate said movable drum section outwardlyand when ber and said spring and said mechanism, being adjustable tochange the position of the eccentric portion angularly of the axis ofsaid member relative to said connection.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support,of a shaft mounted thereon, means for driving said shaft, a drum onmechanism including elements within the drum for moving said separatesections outwardly and which material is adapted to be coiled andcomprising a main section drivingly connected to said shaftysidesections pivotally connected to the opposite sides of said main sectionand an intermediate section movable radially of said shaft and arrangedto engage the outer ends of said side sections to swing them outwardly,said main section being formed with an inwardly extending openingsubstantially co-extensive therewith, adapted to receive the free end ofthe material, clamping elements carried by said main section operable toclamp the material thereto when inserted in said opening, means operablein one I direction to move said intermediate section outwardly, and a.spring connected at its opposite ends to the outer portions of said sidesections and normally tending to swing said sections inwardly andoperable therethrough, 'upon operation of said moving means in theopposite direction, to simultaneously move said intermediate sectioninwardly.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3- wherein means are providedbetween said main drum section and said side drum sections for limitingthe inward movement of the latter to relieve pressure on the movingmeans for said intermediate section.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support,of a shaft mounted thereon, a drum on which material is adapted to becoiled and comprising a main section drivingly connected to said shaftand a plurality of separate sections movable outwardly and inwardly,

inwardly, said main drum section being formed with a slot adapted toreceive the free end of the material, one side wall of the slot formingan abutment, a device movably mounted in said slot in opposed relationto said abutment for movement relative thereto and normally disposed inthe path of movement of the material when the free end thereof isinserted in said slot, but arranged to move away from said abutment topermit insertion of the material in said slot, a spring operativelyconnected with said device and arranged to be put under tension whensaid device is'moved away from said abutment, whereby said device gripsthe material when the free end thereof is inserted in said'slot, and adevice connected to one of the elements of said mechanism and arrangedto move said first mentioned device away from said abutment uponoperation of said mechanism to move said separate sections inwardly.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support,of a shaft rotatably mounted thereon, means for rotating said shaft, adrum on which sheet material is adapted to be coiled, comprising a mainsection provided with a hub surrounding and fixed to said shaft and aplurality of interengaging collapsible sections, gripping devices forremovably securing the free end of the material to said main drumsection, one of said devices being rotatably mounted in said main drumsection and having an eccentric portion intermediate its ends forengagement with and disengagement from the material, a pair of operatingdevices, one of which is fixed to one of said collapsible drum sectionsand the other operating device being slidably mounted on said hub, saidoperating devices having co-acting cam surfaces and co-acting dwellsurfaces, mechanism for moving the operating device mounted on said hubrelative to the operating device fixed to one of the collapsiblesections, and connections between said mechanism and said rotatablegripating devices ERNST W. AILARDT.

